ABSTRACT The development of multifunctional antimicrobial materials represents a promising strategy to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films incorporating Hypericum perforatum essential oil (HPEO) at different concentrations (0.1%–0.3%) were fabricated and systematically characterized. Structural interactions were analyzed by FTIR, while optical transparency and UV‐barrier performance were evaluated using UV–Vis spectroscopy. Ther